Join us for Convocation with Priscilla Shirer!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND
YOUR LOVE FOR US ON THE GIFT
OF YOUR SON JESUS WHO DIED AND
ROSE AGAIN. SO, WE STAND HERE
TODAY AND SIMPLY SAY, GOD, YOU
ARE SO GREAT. GREAT IS THE
THANKFULNESS AS GOD. WHEN WE
ARE BROKEN AND HURTING AND
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN, GOD
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE
ALWAYS THERE. ALWAYS PRESENT
AND ALWAYS ACTIVE IN OUR LIVES.
LIVES. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR
THAT TRUTH. GOD BLESS OUR TIME
TOGETHER AND HELP US TO BE
ENCOURAGED TO YOUR WORD AND
GROW IN OUR FAITH AND TO BECOME
BECOME MORE LIKE YOU. AND THE
DESPERATE TIME WHEN WE NEED IT
SO BADLY. GOD, FOR THAT WE GIVE
GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND ALL
ALL THE GLORY IN JESUS NAME WE
PRAY. AMEN. GO AHEAD AND HAVE A
A SEAT. DID YOU ENJOY HEARING
FROM ANTHONY EVANS HERE THIS
MORNING? SO, IN CASE YOU DIDN’T
DIDN’T KNOW, ANTHONY HAS QUITE
A CAREER. HE HAS PUT OUT SIX
ALBUMS AND HE WAS ACTUALLY AT
THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL. YOU DID
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, RIGHT? HE
HE WAS THE BEAST. HE DID THAT A
A FEW YEARS AGO AND WAS ALSO ON
ON A TV SHOW CALLED THE VOICE,
IN CASE YOU SAW THAT. BUT MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF THAT, HE
IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF LIBERTY U.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. ANTHONY,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT’S
HOMECOMING AND GREAT TO HAVE
YOU BACK HOME WITH US TODAY.
IT’S EXCITING. A GREAT WEEKEND.
WEEKEND. HOMECOMING WEEKEND. WE
WE HAVE A FOOTBALL GAME
TOMORROW, WHICH, BY THE WAY WE
ARE GOING TO WIN. BEFORE WE
KEEP ROLLING HERE THIS MORNING,
MORNING, A COUPLE THINGS. YOU
SAW THE TRAILER SITTING OUTSIDE
OF THE VINE CENTER. IT WILL BE
BE THERE THROUGH 6:00 TONIGHT.
WE TOLD YOU THE OTHER DAY WE
NEED BABY WIPES AND DIAPERS ON
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BOTTLED
WATER, AND YOU CAN BUY A PACK
OF BOTTLED WATER FOR SIX OR
SEVEN BUCKS. WITH INFLATION,
MAYBE EIGHT BUCKS. THAT WILL BE
BE OUT THERE THROUGH 6:00 TODAY
TODAY AND THE TRUCK WILL BE
LEAVING ON MONDAY DRIVING DOWN
TO FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, TO
MacGREGOR BAPTIST CHURCH. THEY
WILL DELIVER ALL THOSE ITEMS TO
TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
WHICH WILL BE PRESENT AND
SHOWING UP AND BEING THE HANDS
AND FEET OF CHRIST AND WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE
THEM AND BLESS THEM. MAKE SURE
YOU GO OUT TODAY. IF YOU HAVE
DONE SO, GO OUT SOMETIME TODAY
AND GET THOSE ITEMS AND DROP
THEM OFF BY 6:00 TONIGHT. ALSO,
ALSO, IF YOU ARE HERE FOR
HOMECOMING, WE HAVE A LOT OF
FORMER GRADUATES AND STUDENTS
COMING IN, YOU CAN USE THE QR
CODE ON YOUR SCREEN AND TAKE IT
A LITTLE OF THAT QR CODE AND
IT WILL GIVE YOU THE SCHEDULES
AND DIFFERENT EVENTS TAKING
PLACE TODAY AND TOMORROW AND
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. JUST
MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE IT
THERE FOR A MOMENT. SO YOU CAN
CATCH THAT. YOU GUYS KNOW, WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT
THIS FALL, THERE IS A GROUP OF
STUDENTS THAT SIT BEHIND THE
SCREEN EVERY SINGLE TIME. YOU
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THEM,
BUT YOU CAN HEAR FROM THEM. WE
ARE GOING TO GO IN THE ROUND
NEXT RING. REMOVING THE STAGE
TO THE MIDDLE SO NO ONE IS
BEHIND THE SCREEN ANYMORE. BUT
TODAY, WE WILL HEAR NOT ONLY
FROM THEM BUT SEE THEM. WE HAVE
HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH THEM
SO LET’S GO UP THERE. I GET
MIGHT BE OUR PRESIDENT JERRY
PREVO.
>> ALL RIGHT. I NEVER GET TO
SEE THIS GROUP APPEAR, SO I
CAME APPEAR TODAY. LET’S ALL
STAND. ALL THESE FOLKS, STAND U.
STAND UP. PUT THEM ON THE
SCREEN SO THE REST OF THE
STUDENT BODY CAN SEE THEM. ALL .
ALL RIGHT. ONE OF THESE DAYS
YOU WILL MAKE GOOD ENOUGH
GRADES SO YOU CAN SIT OUT
THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. WE’VE GOT AN
AN IMPORTANT ELECTION COMING UP.
COMING UP. EVERY ELECTION IS
IMPORTANT. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
REGISTERED TO VOTE? RAISE YOUR
HAND, WOULD YOU, PLEASE? GREAT.
LET ME SLIP BY YOU A LITTLE BI.
LITTLE BIT. I SAW SOME NUMBERS
THE OTHER DAY AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG’S PRANCG
‘S PRANCING HAVE MORE PEOPLE
VOTE THEN LIBERTIES PRECINCT. I
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE DONE,
DON’T YOU? I LIKE CONTESTS. HOW
HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE CONTESTS?
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YOU
YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE HERE
IN VIRGINIA AND VOTE HERE. WE
WILL HAVE A PLACE IN THE BALLROM
THE BALLROOM FOR YOU TO VOTE ON
ON ELECTION DAY BUT YOU NEED TO
TO GET REGISTERED. IF YOU HAVE
A VIRGINIA DRIVERS LICENSE, YOU
YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND REGISTER.
REGISTER. IF YOU DON’T, YOU CAN
CAN REGISTER, I THINK, IS THAT
THE BALLROOM? DO YOU KNOW WHERE
WHERE IT IS?
>> IT SHOULD BE IN THE BALLROOM.
THE BALLROOM.
>> HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT?
>> I’M ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR
CITY COUNCIL.
>> I CAN PROMOTE YOU. I CAN’T
PROMOTE YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOU
NEED TO GET REGISTERED TO VOTE.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET
THAT DONE BY THE 17th. THERE
WILL BE A TABLE UP HERE SOMEPLA,
HERE SOMEPLACE, WHERE THEY WILL
WILL SET UP SO YOU CAN REGISTER.
CAN REGISTER. THERE WILL BE
PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS
THIS WEEK. YOU ARE A GOOD
SENTENCING, GOD GIVES US THE
PRISONERS TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY
WHERE WE CAN VOTE AND CHOOSE
THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE WANT TO
HAVE. BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE
NEED TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN, BUT
MORE THAN THAT, I LIKE TO BEAT
THE PRANCING OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF LYNCHBURG. ALL RIGHT? I’D
LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK IN
IN HERE AND TELL YOU THAT OUR
PRECINCT OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
HAVE MORE PEOPLE VOTE THAN THEY.
THEY DID. SO, GET REGISTERED SO
SO YOU CAN VOTE AND LET’S HAVE
A GREAT TURNOUT WE DON’T WANT
TO GET BEAT. I DON’T LIKE TO
LOSE, DO YOU? NO. SO, LET’S GET
GET REGISTERED TO VOTE. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE A
GREAT SPEAKER TODAY. I WILL ASKD
WILL ASKED PASTOR JONATHAN TO
INTRODUCE THAT SPEAKER. LET’S
GIVE HIM A BIG HAND.
>> BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR
SPEAKER, I WANT TO INTRODUCE
WHAT OTHER GROUP OF GUESTS WHO
ARE HERE IN THE BOX JUST ABOVE
THE SITE OVER HERE. THAT IS A
GROUP OF 75 WOMEN FROM
THOMASVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH.
THEY ARE ALL WIDOWS AND THEY
WANTED TO COME IN HERE
PRISCILLA SPEAK. LET’S WELCOME .
WELCOME THEM. SO, WE ARE
EXCITED TO HAVE PRISCILLA
SHIRER HERE TODAY. SHE IS A
“NEW YORK TIMES” BEST-SELLING .
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR. SHE IS A
BIBLE TEACHER AND PROBABLY MANY
MANY OF YOU HAVE WALKED FOR
SOME OF HER BIBLE STUDIES. SHE
IS AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN OF GOD
WHO IS BEING USED IN INCREDIBLE
INCREDIBLE WAYS, NOT ONLY HERE
IN AMERICA, BUT AROUND THE
WORLD. TAKING THE TRUTH AND
POWER OF GOD’S WORD EVERYWHERE.
EVERYWHERE. WE ARE THRILLED TO E
TO WELCOME PRISCILLA SHIRER TO
THE STAGE HERE AT LIBERTY
UNIVERSITY TODAY. OKAY, Y’ALL.
HEY, FAMILY. GOOD TO SEE YOU
AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH YOU. I AM JUST
GRATEFUL TO BE IN THE HOUSE
TODAY AND BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE
CON VOTE WITH YOU. NOT ONLY
YOU, BUT ESPECIALLY ALL THE
PEOPLE BEHIND ME, BEHIND THE
SCREEN RIGHT HERE. IT’S GOOD TO
TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU AND I AM
EXCITED TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO
DO AND THAT IS TO SHARE GOD’S
WORD WITH YOU. I BELIEVE IN THE
THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD. I
I HOPE YOU DO TOO. I’M EXCITED
TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS WITH
YOU FROM THE SCRIPTURES AND I
HOPE IT WILL BE AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. LET’S
PRAY TOGETHER. LORD, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORD AND IT IS LIVING
IN ACTIVE AND SHARPER THAN ANY
TWO-EDGED SWORD. I PRAY THAT
FOR EVERY SINGLE BROTHER OR
SISTER WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY
VOICE THAT TODAY THEY WILL HEAR
HEAR A WORD STRAIGHT FROM YOUR
HEART FOR THEM. SPEAK, LORD. WE
WE ARE LISTENING. IN JESUS’S
NAME, AMEN. ONE OF THE REASONS
I AM GLAD TO BE HERE, AND THERE
THERE ARE MANY BUT MANY, BUT
ONE IS MY BROTHER GRADUATED
FROM HERE AND NOW I HAVE TWO
SONS THAT ARE HERE AND TWO
NEPHEWS THAT ARE HERE. OUR
FAMILY IS ENTRENCHED A BIT AT
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY AND WE LOVE
IT THAT WAY. MY THREE SONS, ONE
IS ENJOYING HIS HIGH SCHOOL YE.
SCHOOL YEARS. WHEN WE WERE
RAISING THEM AND THEY WERE
REALLY SMALL, WE RAISE THEM IN
A RURAL PART OF THE DALLAS FORT
FORT WORTH AREA. WE LIVE IN AND
AND AROUND DALLAS-FORT WORTH
AND FOR ABOUT A DECADE, WE LIVE
LIVE OUTSIDE OF DALLAS, CLOSE
ENOUGH THAT WE COULD GET TO THE
THE CITY QUICKLY BUT IT WAS A
RURAL PART OF TOWN. IT FELT
LIKE IT WAS WORLDS AWAY.
SOMEBODY HAD SOME TOWELS AND
SOMEBODY HAD HORSES. AND OUR
NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET HAD
A POND. OUR NEIGHBOR, ONE OF MY
MY CLOSEST FRIENDS FOR ABOUT 20
20 YEARS, MY BOYS CALL HER AUNT
AUNT RACHEL, BUT WE WILL GO TO
AUNT RACHEL’S POND. WE WENT
TAKE FISHING POLES THAT I
BOUGHT ON SALE AT THE LOCAL
SUPER WALMART AROUND THE
CORNER. I GOT A TACKLE BOX AS
WELL THAT WAS ON SALE THAT DAY.
WE HAD THINGS IN THE TACKLE
BOX THAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU ARE L
ARE PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN AND
WOMEN. WE HAD EXTRA HOPPERS AND
AND HOOKS AND GLOVES. I DON’T
MIND GOING FISHING BUT I AIN’T
GOING TO TOUCH NO FISH. THEN WE
WE GOT WHAT EVER HOT DOG MEEKLY
MEEKLY HAD LEFT OVER FROM THE W,
THE WEEK, BECAUSE WE ARE
PROFESSIONALS AND THAT WAS THE
BAIT. WE WOULD GO FISHING. MOST
MOST OF THE TIME WE WOULD JUST
FISH ON THE LITTLE PART, A
LITTLE COLD AT THE EDGE OF THE
POND, WITH TREES HANGING OVER I.
OVER IT. IT WAS SHADED AND WE
WOULD FISH RIGHT THERE. EVERY
NOW AND THEN, WE WOULD FEEL
REALLY ADVENTUROUS. MY
NEIGHBORS HAD THIS LITTLE METAL
METAL ROWBOAT THAT THEY BOUGHT
ON CRAIGSLIST. IT WAS SEAWORTHY.
WAS SEAWORTHY. NOT A BIG DEAL,
BUT IT WOULD HOLD US UP ON THE
POND. EVERY NOW AND THEN, WHAT
I WAS FEELING ADVENTUROUS, WE
WOULD GET IN THE BOAT AND PUSH
OUT A LITTLE WAY IN ROW UNTIL
WE GOT A LITTLE DISTANT INTO
THE POND AND FISH FROM THE
MIDDLE WHERE MAYBE THERE WERE
SOME BIGGER FISH. WE DID NOT DO
DO IT OFTEN AND THE REASON WHY
WE DIDN’T DO IT OFTEN IS
BECAUSE TO GET IN THIS BOAT, WE
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN
THIS BOAT OVER. WHEN IT WASN’T
IN USE, THEY WOULD LEAVE IT
UPSIDE DOWN, AS THEY SHOULD, SO
SO IF IT RAINS IT DID NOT FILL
UP WITH WATER OR ANY WATER THAT
THAT COLLECTED IN THE LAST TIME
TIME IT WAS OUT COULD DRAIN. IT
IT WAS LEFT UPSIDE DOWN. SO,
THE PROBLEM IS, Y’ALL, TO GET A
A MISSING WE HAD TO TURN IT
OVER. HERE’S WHAT I KNEW FOR
SURE. THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAVE
HAVE BEEN CREATED UNDERNEATH
THIS UPSIDE DOWN BOAT, IT WAS D,
WAS DAMP, IT WAS DARK, IT WAS
THE PERFECT SITUATION FOR
CRITTERS TO HAVE MADE THEMSELVES
MADE THEMSELVES AT HOME UNDER
THIS BOAT. I KNEW ONCE WE
TURNED IT OVER, SOMETHING WAS
GOING TO HOP OUT FROM
UNDERNEATH HIS BOAT, SOMETHING
WOULD WADDLE OUT FROM
UNDERNEATH HIS VOTE BUT WORST
OF ALL, Y’ALL KNOW, SOMETHING
WAS GOING TO SLITHER OUT FROM
UNDER THIS BOAT. EVERY NOW AND
THEN WHEN I WAS FEELING
ADVENTUROUS I WOULD SAY, OKAY,
BOYS. LET’S TURN IT OVER. I
WOULD STAND WAY AT THE BACK OF
THIS BOAT. THEN WE WENT TURNED
IT OVER AND INEVITABLY
SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS COMES OUT
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT. IT
ALWAYS DAWNED ON ME THAT NEVER
ONCE DID I HAVE TO WRITE AN INVN
AN INVITATION AND SEND IT INTO
THE BRUSH NEARBY AND SAY TO THE
THE CRITTERS, HEY. WE WILL BE
THERE AT 1:00 P.M. IF YOU WANT
TO COME AND JOIN US YOU ARE
WELCOME TO. NEVER ONCE DID I
HAVE TO STAND ON THE SHORELINE
AND CALL OUT TO THEM AND SAY,
HEY. YOUR CRITTERS WANT TO COME
COME AND ENJOY THIS FISHING
EXPEDITION WITH THE SPECS NEVER
NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO INVITE
THEM BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT
CREATED BY THE UPSIDE DOWN BOAT
BOAT WAS INVITATION ENOUGH.
UPSIDE DOWN LIVING. IT IS
LIVING THAT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT
ALIGNMENT WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD.
OF GOD. RIGHT SIDE UP LIVING,
IT POSITIONED YOU FOR THE
SUNLIGHT OF GOD’S FAVOR, GOD’S
GRACE, GOD’S BLESSING, TO BE
POURED OUT ON YOUR LIFE BUT
WHEN YOU’RE LIVING UPSIDE DOWN,
DOWN, NOT ONLY DO YOU NOT HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE
GOD’S BLESSING AND FAVOR ON
YOUR LIFE, BUT YOU’VE ALSO
CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT IN YOUR
LIFE, I CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT
IN MY LIFE, THAT WHEN I HAVE
UPSIDE OUT ATTITUDES AND
ACTIONS AND UPSIDE DOWN
BEHAVIORS THAT ARE OUT OF
ALIGNMENT WITH THE TRUTH OF
GOD, I HAVE CREATED AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE ENEMY OF
OUR SOULS CAN COME AND MAKE
HIMSELF AT HOME. CAUSING
JEALOUSY OR LACK OF PEACE OF
MIND, OF HEART, WHERE HE STIRS
THE VISION AND RELATIONSHIPS
AND CAUSES ANGST AND ANXIETY IN
IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND IN OUR
OUR OWN LIFE. I DON’T KNOW
ABOUT Y’ALL, BUT I WANT TO LIVE
LIVE RIGHT SET UP SO I CAN HAVE
HAVE THAT FAVOR ALL OVER MY
LIFE. SO, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT
IN A GROUP DECIDE THERE ARE
VERY MANY OF US WHO HAVE FOUND
OURSELVES, WHETHER IN THE
PASTOR RIGHT NOW IN THE
PRESENT, AS YOU AND I ARE
SITTING IN THIS ROOM, YOU
RECOGNIZE THERE ARE TIMES THAT
WE ARE LIVING UPSIDE DOWN WHERE
WHERE WE KNOW GOOD AND WELL
THAT OUR ATTITUDES, OUR SPEECH
AND COMMUNICATION IN THE WAY
ARE REACTING TO OTHER PEOPLE,
WE KNOW IT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT
WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD AND I
WANTED TO ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU
WHO MIGHT BE RECOGNIZING
SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF RIGHT
NOW THAT YOU REALIZE IT’S
UPSIDE DOWN. THAT YOU KNOW THIS
THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD HAS CALLED
CALLED YOU TO. IT’S NOT HOW HE
CALLED YOU TO BEHAVE OR ACT OR
SPEAK OR RESPOND OR RELATE TO
OTHER PEOPLE. YOU JUST FEEL
LIKE MAYBE YOU ARE TOO FAR GONE
GONE TO COME BACK AND I JUST
WANTED TO REMIND YOU AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY THAT GOD’S
GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU.
THAT HE HIMSELF, BY HIS SPIRIT,
SPIRIT, WILL HELP YOU TURN THAT
THAT BOAT RIGHT SIDE UP SO THE
SUNLIGHT AND HIS FAVOR CAN BE
ALL OVER YOUR LIFE. HIS PATIENTS
HIS PATIENTS IS PERFECT FOR
YOU. HIS MERCY IS EXTRAVAGANT,
HIS LOVE IS NEVER ENDING AND HE
IS SLOW TO ANGER. IS ANYBODY
GLAD HE IS SLOW TO ANGER? AND
HE HAS GREAT IN LOVINGKINDNESS.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU FOR JUST
A FEW MINUTES THIS MORNING,
ABOUT THE PATIENCE OF GOD. HOW
PATIENT HE IS TOWARD YOU. THE
ENEMY WOULD WANT YOU TO THINK,
BECAUSE Y’ALL KNOW WE HAVE AN
ENEMY, RIGHT? HE WILL WANT YOU
TO THINK THAT GOD IS MAD AT
YOU. THAT THERE IS NO HOPE. ONE
GOD SPEAKS IT IS THE VOICE OF .
OF CONVICTION. WHEN THE ENEMY
SPEAKS WITH CONDEMNATION.
CONDEMNATION SAYS THAT NOT ONLY
ONLY WHAT YOU DID IS WRONG,
CONDEMNATION SAYS YOU ARE WRONG.
ARE WRONG. THAT THERE IS NO HOPE
NO HOPE FOR TURNING YOUR BOAT
RIGHT SIDE UP AND THERE IS NO
HOPE FOR GOD’S FAVOR AND GRACE
BEING ASKED. IS BY YOU. I WANT
TO REMIND YOU OF THE
EXTRAVAGANT GRACE AND LOVE OF
GOD TOWARD YOU THAT HIS
PATIENTS IS PERFECT. HIS PATIEN,
HIS PATIENTS, THE REASON WHY I
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, IS,
IS, HONESTLY, IT’S ONE OF THE
MOST OVERLOOKED CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR GOD.
THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD. HE’S
ONLY PRESENT AT HIS PATIENTS
SOMETIMES SNEAKS IN THERE AND
GETS OVERLOOKED BY SOME OF THE
BIGGER THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
THAT WE CELEBRATE ABOUT GOD BUT
BUT I THINK IN ALL OF THE LINKS
LINKS OF THE CHAIN THAT MAKE UP
UP THE CHARACTER OF OUR GOD,
THE MOST ESSENTIAL AND
IMPORTANT ONE IS THIS ONE. HE
IS PATIENT AND MERCIFUL IN LONGG
IN LONG-SUFFERING TOWARDS US.
AND THE REASON I THINK IT IS ESL
IS ESSENTIAL IN THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHAIN IS
BECAUSE, HONESTLY, IF HE WASN’T
WASN’T PATIENT WITH US, WE
WOULDN’T EXIST LONG ENOUGH TO
EXPERIENCE THE OTHER PART OF
HIS CHARACTER. IT IS BECAUSE OFT
OF THAT AND BECAUSE HE
LONG-SUFFERING TOWARDS US,
HERE’S THE GREAT THING ABOUT
GOD. YOU AND I ARE NOT POWERFUL
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO WHERE GOD OU.
GOD OUT. GOD DOESN’T NEED A
GOOD NAP BEFORE HE CAN HANDLE
WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR PAST OR
IS CURRENTLY GOING ON IN YOUR
FUTURE. WE DON’T HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO WHERE GOD OUT. WE
ARE NOT THAT GREAT. SO, I WANT
YOU TO KNOW THERE IS NOTHING
DONE, NOTHING SAID, KNOW WHERE
YOU HAVE BEEN, THERE IS NOTHING
NOTHING OF EXPERIENCE, THERE’S
NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO
YOU OR YOU DONE TO SOMEBODY
ELSE, THERE IS NO PATH YOU WALK
WALK ON, NOTE DITCH UW FOR
YOURSELF, THERE IS NO UPSIDE,
NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE
BEEN LIVING THAT WAY, TODAY IS
NOT ACTUALLY A GREAT DAY FREE
TO SAY, FATHER, HELP ME TURN
THIS BOAT RIGHT SIDE UP. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND GRACE
GRACE TOWARDS ME.’S GRACE IS SU.
IS SUFFICIENT. HE’S GOT YOUR BA.
YOUR BACK. ONE OF THE CLEAREST
PLACES IN SCRIPTURE THAT SPEAKS
SPEAKS ABOUT THE PATIENCE OF
GOD IS IN FIRST TIMOTHY. IF YOU
YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLE AND WILL
USE AN OLD SCHOOL BIBLE LIKE I
DO WITH PAPER PAGES OR YOU HAVE
HAVE YOUR iPHONE OR iPAD, ANY
ONE WILL TAKE YOU TO FIRST
COMMITTEE 1. HE TALKS ABOUT HIS
HIS PATIENTS AND THE PATIENCE
OF GOD AND THE APOSTLE PAUL
WRITING TO TIMOTHY. IN FIRST TIY
FIRST TIMOTHY 1:16, HE SAYS,
AND YET FOR THIS REASON, THIS
IS THE APOSTLE PAUL TALKING,
YET FOR THIS REASON, I FOUND
MERCY IN ORDER THAT IN ME, AS
THE FOREMOST FOR THE CHIEF OF
ALL SINNERS, CHRIST MIGHT
DEMONSTRATE HIS PERFECT
PATIENTS. WHAT KIND OF PATIENTS
PATIENTS IS IT? HIS PERFECT PAT.
PERFECT PATIENTS. AS AN EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD
BELIEVE IN HIM TO ETERNAL LIFE.
LIFE. THE APOSTLE PAUL CALLS IT
IT PERFECT. WHICH MEANS EVEN ADD
EVEN ADDED FOR THIS EXTREME, EVN
EXTREME, EVEN IF THAT WAS
REPRESENTING THE MOST FAR CAPACY
FAR CAPACITY OF OUR GOD’S
PATIENCE, THERE’S NOTHING TO
MINISTER WEEK ABOUT OUR GOD
PATIENTS. IT CANNOT BE
DIMINISHED AND CANNOT RUN OUT.
IT IS PERFECT. AND JUST IN CASE,
IN CASE, IF YOU’RE WONDERING IF
IF YOU ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE
THE RULE BECAUSE YOU KNOW
YOURSELF AND YOU LOOK IN THE
MIRROR, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE
DONE AND WHAT YOUR HISTORY
ENTAILS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I KNOW,
KNOW, THE PATH YOU WALK DOWN,
THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAVE ALLO,
HAVE ALLOW, THE THINGS THAT GOT
GOT YOU HUNG UP SOMETIME, YOU
KNOW YOU. SO, SOMETIMES WHEN WE
WE KNOW OURSELVES LIKE THIS, WE
WE THINK WE ARE THE EXCEPTION
TO THE RULE AND GOD’S GRACE
MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THAT PERSON
ON THIS SIDE OF ME ARE THAT
SIDE OF ME ARE THE ONE WHO IS
SITTING BEHIND ME, BUT NOT ME
BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW MY
STORY. YOU DON’T KNOW MY TESTIM.
MY TESTIMONY. POSSIBLY, THERE
ARE A FEW OF YOU HERE TODAY
THAT THINK YOU MIGHT BE AN
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE AND I
THINK THE APOSTLE PAUL KNEW
THAT WHICH IS WHY HE SAID, LET
ME BE A DEMONSTRATION FOR YOU.
AND HE CALLS HIMSELF THE
FOREMOST. THE CHIEF OF ALL
SINNERS. THIS IS THE APOSTLE
PAUL BASICALLY SAYING YOU THINK
THINK THAT NOTHING I AIN’T
ALREADY DONE. YOU HAVEN’T BEEN
ANYWHERE I HAVEN’T ALREADY
BEEN. YOU HAVEN’T SAID WHAT
I’VE ALREADY SAID OR THOUGHT ANG
THOUGHT ANYTHING THAT I HAVEN’T
HAVEN’T ALREADY THOUGHT. HE’S
LIKE IF YOU THINK THE ONE OF
THE ROLES HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW
THE ARMOR OF GOD IS NOT SO LONG
LONG THAT HE CANNOT REACH IN
THE AND PULL YOU OUT OF IT. HE
WANTED TO KNOW HIS PATIENTS IS
PERFECT TOWARDS ME AS THE CHIEF
CHIEF OF ALL SINNERS WHICH
MEANS HIS PATIENTS IS ALSO
PERFECT TOWARDS YOU. SO HE
SAID, LISTEN, THE PATIENCE OF
GOD IS GREAT AND HE STARTS THATE
THAT VERSE WITH THIS LITTLE PHR.
LITTLE PHRASE. FOR THIS REASON.
REASON. IT’S KIND OF LIKE THE
WORD THEREFORE. ANY TIME EVER
STARTS WITH FOR THIS REASON ARE
ARE STARTS WITH THE WORD
THEREFORE, YOU NEED TO GO SEE
WHAT IT IS THEREFORE BECAUSE IT
IT IS THERE FOR A REASON. IS
TRYING TO CONNECT DOTS WITH
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN.
BEFORE THAT PARTICULAR VERSE.
PAUL IS TRYING TO CONNECT THE
DOTS FOR US BETWEEN WHAT HE HAS
HAS ALREADY SAID IN WHAT HE IS G
IS DESCRIBING IS THE PERFECT
PATIENCE OF GOD. HE SAYING,
GOD’S PATIENCE IS PERFECT AND I
I HAVE REASONS I’VE ALREADY
TOLD YOU. FOR A FEW MINUTES,
YOU AND I COULD JUST GIVE UP A
FEW VERSES AND FIND OUT WHAT
THE REASONS WERE THAT HE
DESCRIBES AS TO WHY WE CAN BE CT
BE CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS
ALWAYS HOPE FOR US, ALWAYS
MERCY TOWARDS US, THAT THE BOAT
BOAT THAT MIGHT BE UPSIDE DOWN
RIGHT NOW DOESN’T HAVE TO STAY
THAT WAY. THAT THERE’S ALWAYS
AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OUR GOD
IS SO MERCIFUL TO GET THAT
THING RIGHT SIDE UP SO WE CAN
HAVE GOD’S GRACE POURED OUT ON
OUR LIFE. I WILL SHOW YOU AND I
I WILL LOOK WITH YOU AND WHAT
THESE REASONS ARE. THE FIRST
REASON IS IN VERSE 15. WE ARE
JUST BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT.
HE SAYS, IT’S A TRUSTWORTHY
STATEMENT DESERVING FULL ACCEPTE
FULL ACCEPTANCE AND HERE’S THE
REASON. THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME
INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.
THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. HE
SAYS HERE IS THE FIRST REASON
WHY YOU CAN KNOW FOR SURE THAT
YOU CANNOT OUTPACE OR OUTRUN
THE GRACE AND THE PERFECT
PATIENCE OF GOD. HERE’S HOW YOU
YOU CAN ALWAYS NOTE THAT THERE
IS ALWAYS HOPE FOR YOU AND ME
THAT WE ARE NEVER TOO FAR GONE
TO EXPERIENCE SOME MERCY AND
GOODNESS AND GRACE OF GOD. HE
SAYS HERE’S THE REASON. HE SAID
SAID YOU, DIDN’T HE? ALL RIGHT.
I CAN TELL THAT YOU ARE NOT EXD
NOT EXCITED ENOUGH ABOUT THAT
LITTLE REASON RIGHT THERE.
HERE’S THE THING. SOMETIMES,
MAYBE IF YOU GREW UP IN CHURCH
AROUND CHURCH CULTURE ALL YOUR
LIFE FOR HERE YOU ARE NOW AT
THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE WHERE YOU
YOU GET TO BOLDLY UNASHAMEDLY
EXPLAIN THE NAME OF JESUS
CHRIST AND HEAR ABOUT THESE
NUANCES OF SALVATION. AND
VICTORIOUS LIVING ON A REGULAR
BASIS AND REGULAR EVERYDAY LIFE.
EVERYDAY LIFE. SOMETIMES FOR
FOLKS LIKE US WHO ARE SO
LESSONED TO HEAR THIS SORT OF
THING REGULARLY, EVERY NOW AND
THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO HEAR IT
AND IT ROLLS OFF OUR SHOULDERS
CASUALLY AS IF IT IS NO BIG DEA.
SO, LET’S TALK FOR JUST A
SECOND. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE S.
ARE SAVED. OKAY. IT’S KIND OF A
A BIG DEAL. DO YOU KNOW THAT IT
IT IS A MIRACLE THAT YOU WERE B.
WERE BORN. PHYSICALLY BORN.
IT’S A MIRACLE THAT YOU WERE
BORN. THERE IS NOTHING CHANCE
OR HAPPENSTANCE AND IS NOT
LUCKY STARS THAT YOU WERE BORN
IN THIS DAY AND AGE IN THIS GENN
THIS GENERATION, THAT YOUR LIFE
LIFE WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS POINT
POINT IN HISTORY. THAT YOU ARE
IN THE SKIN COLOR YOU ARE IN
WITH THE HERETICS YOU GOT ON
YOUR HEAD. THAT YOU HAPPEN TO
BE WITH THAT PERSONALITY, THOSE
THOSE RANKS IN THOSE WEAKNESSES,
THOSE WEAKNESSES, THAT NUANCE
OF THE WAY YOU OPERATE AND
RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE, THE
UNIQUENESS OF WHO YOU ARE,
THERE AIN’T NOTHING CHANCE
ABOUT THAT. IT’S A MIRACLE THAT
THAT YOU WERE BORN THAT WAY. I
AM SAYING, Y’ALL, IT WAS DIVINE
DIVINE STRATEGY THAT SET YOU UP.
YOU UP. THAT EVEN IF YOUR
PARENTS WERE SURPRISED THAT YOU
YOU SHOWED UP, GOD WAS NOT.
OKAY? HE HAD YOU PLANNED. THINK
THINK ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE 7
BILLION, POLITICALLY CLOSER TO
A BILLION, PLUS PEOPLE ON THE
PLANET. YOUR GREAT, GREAT,
GREAT GRANDFATHER WITH 1
BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET,
HE JUST HAPPENED TO CROSS PATHS
PATHS WITH THE WOMAN THAT WOULD
WOULD BE YOUR GREAT GREAT
GRANDMOTHER, AND THE TWO CAME
TOGETHER AND CREATED YOUR GREAT
GREAT GRANDFATHER. THEN YOUR
GREAT FATHER WITH A BILLION
PLUS PEOPLE ON THE PLANET
HAPPEN TO FIND A WOMAN THAT WAS
WAS YOUR MOTHER. THEY CAME TO
HEATHER AND CREATED YOUR AND
FATHER. YOUR GRANDMA FATHER
WITH 1 BILLION PLUS PEOPLE ON
THE PLANET FOUND THE WOMAN THAT
THAT WOULD BE YOUR GRANDMOTHER
AND THEY CREATED YOUR FATHER
AND THEN YOUR FATHER WITH THE A
A BILLION PLUS PEOPLE ON THE
PLANET FOUND THE WOMAN WHO
WOULD BE YOUR MOTHER AND I CAME
CAME TO HEATHER AND CREATED YOU.
CREATED YOU. THERE IS NOTHING
CHANCE ABOUT THAT. THAT IS GOD
ORCHESTRATING, MANEUVERING,
ALIGNING, PUTTING THE RIGHT PEOE
RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE
MAKE SURE YOU AND I SHOWED UP
IN THIS POINT IN HISTORY. IT’S
A MIRACLE. IT’S A MIRACLE THAT
YOU WERE BORN. AND IF IT IS A
MIRACLE THAT YOU ARE BORN, HOW
MUCH MORE OF A MIRACLE IS IT
THAT YOU WERE BORN AGAIN. OKAY?
MY FATHER HAD DESCRIBED THIS
LIKE A DIVINE CHESSBOARD. SINCE
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME
YOUR GOD HAS BEEN STRATEGICALLYG
STRATEGICALLY ORGANIZING FOR
YOUR SALVATION IN MIND AND
VYING FOR YOUR ALLEGIANCE. IT’S
IT’S LIKE A COSMIC CHESSBOARD.
THE ENEMY HAD BEEN ON ONE SIDE,
SIDE, AND GOD HAS BEEN ON THE
OTHER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIE
OF TIME VYING FOR OUR
ALLEGIANCE AND MAKING WAY FOR
REDEMPTION. GOD MADE THE FIRST
MOVE. HE PUT ADAM AND EVE,
PERFECT INDIVIDUALS, IN A
PERFECT ENVIRONMENT, OR
PERCOLATION SHIP TO HIMSELF BUT
BUT THE ENEMY MADE A MOVE. HE
SLITHERED INTO THEIR PERFECT
EXPERIENCE AND INTRODUCE SIN
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, SIN ENTERS
ENTERS THE HEART OF MAN AND
INTO THE EXPERIENCE IN SEPARATE
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE
TRUE AND LIVING GOD AND ALL OF
A SUDDEN, KANE KILLED ABEL AND
NOT MURDER ENTERS THE SCENE AND
AND IT LOOKS LIKE ALL HOPE IS
LOST, BUT OUR GOD, NEVER TO BE
OUTDONE, MAKES ANOTHER MOVE ON
THE COSMIC CHESSBOARD AND CAUSES
AND CAUSES ADAM AND EVE TO COME
COME BACK TOGETHER AND THEY
HAVE A BABY SAT IN SETH GIVES
BIRTH AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT
WAS ABOUT THAT BABY BUT IN GENES
IN GENESIS 4, EVERYBODY STARTED
STARTED WORSHIPING GOD AGAIN
BUT THEN THE ENEMY MADE ANOTHER.
ANOTHER MOVE. HE INTRODUCED REBN
INTRODUCED REBELLION AND IT
PROLIFERATED SO FAR AND SO WIDE
WIDE THAT THE ENTIRE EARTH
NEEDED TO BE DESTROYED BY A FLO.
A FLOOD. IT LOOKED LIKE THE
ENEMY HAD WON, BUT OUR GOD,
NEVER TO BE OUTDONE, HAD
ANOTHER MOVE UP ASLEEP IN HIS
NAME WAS NOAH. HE SAID NOAH,
I’M GOING TO NEED YOU TO BUILD
ME AN ARC SO HUMANKIND, I AM
NOT DUMB WITH THEM. IN THROUGH
ONE MAN’S OBEDIENCE, HUMANKIND
WAS PRESERVED. THEN THE ENEMY
INTRODUCE SIN AND REBELLION
AGAIN AND IT PROLIFERATED SO
MUCH THAT IT SEEMED LIKE ALL
HOPE WAS LOST BUT OUR GOD NEVER
NEVER TO BE OUTDONE MADE
ANOTHER MOVE I WENT TO THIS
LITTLE TOWN CALLED — AND
PLUCKED OUT OF IT A MAN NAMED
ABRAM AND SAID, GO WITH ME. I’M
I’M GOING TO CHANGE NOT ONLY
YOUR NAME BUT ALSO THE GPS
COORDINATES ON YOUR DESTINY.
I’M GOING TO CREATE A BRAND-NEW
BRAND-NEW PEOPLE OUT OF YOU AND
AND THEY WILL BE MY AND I WILL
BE THEIRS. THE ENEMY MADE
ANOTHER MOVE. NOW HE TAKES
GOD’S PEOPLE, THIS BRAND-NEW
GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND THEY GO
INTO EGYPT AND ARE ENSLAVED FOR
FOR 400 YEARS. IT SEEMS LIKE
ALL HOPE IS LOST BUT THEN GOD
MAKES ANOTHER MOVE AND HIS NAME
NAME IS MOSES. AT THE RIGHT
TIME, HE SAYS TO MOSES,,,
MOSES. IT’S TIME TO GO TELL
PHARAOH, LET MY PEOPLE GO. AND
AFTER 40 YEARS WANDERING IN THE
THE WINDOWLESS, THE PEOPLE OF
GOD FINALLY COME INTO THE PLACE
PLACE OF GOD, A LAND FLOWING
WITH MILK AND HONEY, BUT, YELL,
THE ENTIRE BOOK OF JUDGES IS
ABOUT GOD IN THE ENEMY INTRODUCS
ENEMY INTRODUCES IDOLATRY TO
THE PEOPLE OF GOD. THEY ARE
STILL WORSHIPING GOD BUT ALSO
WORSHIPING THE IDOLS OF THE
LAND AND WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE LIVE
LIVE A DUPLICITOUS LIFE AND
WHERE THEY ARE WORSHIPING GOD
ON ONE SIDE THAT GOT IDOLS ON
THE OTHER SIDE, IT CREATES
HAVOC THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CUL.
ENTIRE CULTURE. BY THE TIME YOU
YOU GET TO THE LAST LINE OF THE
THE BOOK OF JUDGES, THE LAST
LINE SAYS, EVERYBODY WAS DOING
WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYE.
OWN EYES. YELL, IF THAT DOESN’T
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS COUNTRY
COUNTRY IN THE YEAR 2022, I
DON’T KNOW WHAT DOES. IT SEEMS
LIKE ALL HOPE WAS LOST, BUT OF
COURSE, OUR GOD, NEVER TO BE
OUT DONE, HE MAKES ANOTHER MOVE
AND HER NAME IS RUTH. THEN,
RUTH HAD A ROUGH START. I PRETTY
I PRETTY BEGINNING BUT AT THE
RIGHT TIME SHE MET THIS GUY
NAMED MOAB AND THE TWO OF THEM
COME TOGETHER IN THEIR LIVES
INTERSECT AND THEY GIVE BIRTH
TO A BABY BOY AND HE GIVES
BIRTH TO JESSE AND JESSE GIVES
BIRTH TO A GUY NAMED DAVID. AND
AND WITH THAT, WITH THAT ONE MO,
ONE MOVE, THE ENEMY DIDN’T EVEN
EVEN KNOW IT BUT THE CHECKMATE
WAS ALREADY ON THE WAY. THEN
THE OLD TESTAMENT CLOSES WITH
400 YEARS OF SILENCE. GOD IS ON
ON ONE SIDE OF THE COSMIC
CHESSBOARD AND THE ENEMY IS ON
THE OTHER SIDE AND THEY ARE
SILENCE FOR 400 YEARS IN ALL OF
OF HISTORY, ALL OF HUMANITY, IS
IS WAITING IN THE BALANCE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL
MAKE THE NEXT MOVE. IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT OPENS. AND GOD MAKES
A MOVE THE LIKES OF WHICH THE
ENEMY STILL TO THIS DAY HAS
NEVER HAD OR SAW. JESUS CHRIST S
CHRIST ENTERS THE SCENE. Y’ALL,
THIS IS GOD BASICALLY PUTTING
ON FLESH AND SAYING, YOU KNOW
WHAT. LET ME TAKE CARE OF THIS .
THIS MYSELF. AND HE LIVED A
PERFECT LIFE AND DIES THE
SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH IN THREE
DAYS LATER HE GETS UP OUT OF
THE GREAT AND GIVES US THE
RECEIPT OF THE RESURRECTION FOR
FOR OUR REDEMPTION AND WITH
THAT ONE MOVE, OUR SALVATION IS.
IS SECURED. OKAY? WHY? WHY
WOULD PAUL BRING UP SALVATION
IN THIS PASSAGE ABOUT THE
PERFECT PATIENCE OF GOD?
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO KNOW IF I
WAS PATIENCE ENOUGH TO
ORCHESTRATE THE DETAILS OF THE
PAST FEW MILLENNIA TO TAKE CARE
CARE OF YOUR SALVATION, IF HE
WAS PATIENCE ENOUGH FOR THAT,
HE IS ALSO PATIENCE ENOUGH TO
TAKE CARE OF YOU. EVERY SINGLE .
SINGLE DAY. EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
EVERY SINGLE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
LIFE. IF HE WAS PATIENCE ENOUGH
ENOUGH TO SET YOU, HE IS
PATIENCE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN YOU.
OKAY. BUT HE SAYS, THAT’S NOT
THE ONLY REASON. HE SAYS
THERE’S ANOTHER REASON IN VERSE6
VERSE 16, VERSE 14, RATHER,
ACTUALLY, 13. HE SAYS EVEN
THOUGH I WAS FORMERLY A
BLASPHEMER, A PERSECUTOR, AND
ABOUT AN AGGRESSOR, FORMALLY.
SOMEBODY SAY FORMALLY. IT’S
YOUR TESTIMONY. SAY FORMALLY.
OKAY. THE APOSTLE PAUL, THIS IS
IS SO GOOD. THE APOSTLE PAUL
GIVES US THREE THINGS ON HIS
THIN RESUME. HE DIDN’T TELL US
ANY DETAILS BEFORE JUST SAYS
I’M THE CHIEF OF ALL SINNERS IN
IN THE WORST YOU’VE EVER SEEN.
NOW HE GIVES US THREE DETAILS.
HE GIVES US THE — BUT HE SAYS
SAYS BEFORE YOU READ MY RESUME,
RESUME, MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE
BOLD FONT UNDERLINED SUBTITLE
THAT IS AT THE TOP OF MY RESUME.
MY RESUME. FORMERLY. THIS IS
WHO I WAS. BUT THIS IS NOT WHO
I AM NOW. BECAUSE THE PATIENCE
OF GOD IS SO GREAT THAT NOT
ONLY DOES HE SAVE YOU, BUT HE
STICKS AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO
CHANGE YOU. HE HELPS YOU WALK DT
WALK DIFFERENT AND TALK
DIFFERENT AND MANEUVER
DIFFERENT AND RELATE DIFFERENT
AND HAVE DIFFERENT AMBITIONS AND
AMBITIONS AND DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES IN A DIFFERENT
MIND-SET, HE CHANGES YOU FROM
THE INSIDE OUT. THIS IS NOT THE
THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, Y’AL.
MODIFICATION, Y’ALL. THAT’S
JUST TEMPORARY. IT’S ALSO
EXHAUSTING WHEN YOU’RE TRYING
TO DO IT FOR YOURSELF, BUT WHEN
WHEN GOD HIMSELF SAYS NO, I’M
GOING TO SANCTIFY YOU AND
CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT,
OUT, SO YOU CAN START TO THINK
LIKE JESUS AND TALK TO JESUS
AND WALK LIKE JESUS AND THINK
LIKE JESUS, HE SAID I’M GOING
TO MAKE IT MY BUSINESS NOT TO
JUST SAVE YOU AND LEAVE YOU ON
YOUR OWN. NO, I’M ALSO GOING TO
TO MAKE SURE I CHANGE YOU. SO,
ONE DAY YOU WILL LOOK BACK ON
LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO, TODAY,
AGO, TODAY, YOU LOOK BACK AND
GO, OH, THAT’S WHO I WAS. BUT
THAT IS NOT WHO I AM ANYMORE. I
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE
GRACE AND GOODNESS OF GOD. THIS
THIS IS ONE OF MY SONS FAVORITE
FAVORITE ILLUSTRATIONS. HAVE
YOU WONDERED HOW POPCORN POPS?
SOMEBODY SAY YES? HERE’S THE
DEAL. INSIDE EVERY KERNEL OF CON
OF CORN THERE IS A LITTLE DROP
OF WATER. WHEN YOU PUT THE BAG
OF POPCORN IN THE MICROWAVE,
THE HEAT FROM THE MICROWAVE IS
NOT HEATING UP THE SHELL. IT IS
IS CONCENTRATING ON THE WATER
THAT IS THE MICROSCOPIC POT OF
WATER INSIDE OF EVERY KERNEL
AND AS IT BEGINS TO HEAT UP, IT
IT CREATES STEAM IN THE SCENE
CREATES PRESSURE AND IT GETS SO
SO INTENSE INSIDE OF THAT SHELL
SHELL THAT EVENTUALLY THE SHELL.
SHELL POPS. ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WHAT LOOKED HARD AND LIKE IT
COULD NOT BE TRANSFORMED AT THEG
THE BEGINNING BECOMES
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT,
COMPLETELY NEW, STUFF THAT WAS
IN THERE THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT
THOUGHT TO BE IN CASE SOMETHING
SOMETHING THAT SMALL AND
INSIGNIFICANT, COMPLETELY
TRANSFORM NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE
CONCENTRATING ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE HEATING UP
WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE. THE
PATIENCE OF GOD IS SO GREAT
TOWARDS YOU THAT HE BEGINS TO
HEAT UP WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE
WHEN YOU CONCENTRATE ON
DEVELOPING YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE LORD. HE SAYS, DON’T
WORRY ABOUT THE CHANGING. I
WILL CHANGE YOU. I WILL
TRANSFORM YOU. I WILL CHANGE
HER DESIRE SO THAT THINGS YOU
WANT NOW, YOUR APPETITE WILL BE
BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LATER.
I CAN MAKE A FORMERLY BE AT THE
THE TOP OF YOUR RESUME, TOO.
BUT HE SAYS THERE’S ONE FINAL RN
FINAL REASON WHY HE WANTS YOU
TO KNOW THE PATIENCE OF GOD IS
GREAT. HE SAYS IN VERSE 12, I
THANKED CHRIST JESUS MY LORD
WHO HAS STRENGTHENED ME. HE
SAVED ME. HE CHANGED ME. BUT HEO
HE ALSO GIVES ME STRENGTH.
THERE IS JUSTIFICATION,
SANCTIFICATION, AND THERE IS FO.
IS FORTIFICATION. HE IS GOING
TO GIVE YOU SPIRITUAL MUSCLE.
SO THAT YOU CAN BE WHO HE HAS
CALLED YOU TO BE. BECAUSE IT IS
IS NOT BY STRENGTH, NOT BY
POWER, IT IS BY THE SPIRIT OF
GOD AND SOME TRUST IN HORSES
AND OTHER FOLKS TRUST IN
CHARIOTS, BUT NOT US. WE
CHECKED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
LORD OUR GOD. IF YOU DON’T FEELE
FEEL LIKE — IF YOU DON’T FEEL
LIKE YOU CAN HANG IN THERE
WITH THE STUFF GOING ON IN YOUR
YOUR LIFE LIKE THIS LET AKIN HO,
AKIN HOME, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR
ROOMMATE, THEY DON’T KNOW ABOUT
ABOUT THE STUFF GOING ON WITH
YOUR MAMA AND THEM AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS YOU’VE GOT GOING
ON, AND THE STUFF YOU’RE
STRUGGLING WITH. YOU DON’T FEEL
FEEL STRONG ENOUGH FOR YOU AND
YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU WILL HAVE
HAVE ENOUGH RESULT OF
NOTIFICATION TO KEEP GOING
THERE OUT THE REST OF THE
SEMESTER AND THE REST OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE HEAR THE
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. IF I HAD A
PATIENCE TO SAVE YOU AND I HAVE
HAVE ENOUGH GRACE TO SUSTAIN
YOU, AND SANCTIFY YOU, PLEASE KW
PLEASE KNOW I AM GOING TO GIVE
YOU THE STRENGTH AND THE
FORTIFICATION TO HONOR ME WITH
YOUR LIFE. AND TO BE SUSTAINED.
THE GOOD WORK THAT I HAVE
STARTED IN YOU, YOU BETTER
BELIEVE I’M GOING TO BRING IT
TO COMPLETION. OKAY. I’M GOING
TO CLOSE WITH THIS. ONE
CHRISTMAS MORNING OUR LITTLE DUE
LITTLE DUDE WAS NOT REALLY
LITTLE, HE WAS 14 ON SUNDAY AND
AND IS A GIANT. ALL THE BOYS
ARE GIANTS. SOMEBODY COME HELP
ME FEED THESE PEOPLE. SO, JUDE
WASN’T HERE YET. IT WAS A OLDER.
OLDER TWO. EARLY MORNING AND I
THINK THEY WERE LIKE 3 AND 4
YEARS OLD AND YOU KNOW HOW IT
IS WHEN WE ALL WERE LITTLE LIKE
LIKE THAT. YOU GET UP ON
CHRISTMAS MORNING AND YOU
IMMEDIATELY WANT TO WAKE UP AND
AND OPEN GIFTS AND GET INTO THE
THE DAY. IT’S LIKE 5:00 A.M. IN
IN YOUR PARENTS ALIKE, ARE YOU
KIDDING ME? SO, WE GOT UP AND I
I AM THE KIND OF MOM THAT
MOSTLY WHENEVER LITTLE BOUGHT
THEM GIFTS FROM THE DOLLAR
STORE BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO
LITTLE TO KNOW THAT IT WASN’T
WORTH NOTHING. SO I’M THAT AS
LONG AS I COULD. I’M ALSO THE
KIND OF MOM THAT IF I BOUGHT
THEM I GET THAT HAD PARTS TO
IT, WHEN I OPEN THAT UP AND
TAKE THE PARTS OUT AND RENT
THEM SEPARATELY, LIKE IF IT WAS
WAS A BOW AND ARROW, THEY GOT A
A BOW,, AND ARROW, AND THEY
WOULD THINK THEY HAD LOTS OF
STUFF. IT WAS LIKE ONE THING
FROM THE DOLLAR STORE TAKEN
APART AND DISMANTLED, BUT ON
THIS DAY, THIS IS THE FIRST
CHRISTMAS WE GOT THEM A REAL
GIFT. WE WENT TO TOYS “R” US
WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME AND
WE BOUGHT THEM THIS BASEBALL
MACHINE. IT WAS A BASEBALL
MACHINE THAT CATAPULTED
BASEBALL OUT AT A CERTAIN
FREQUENCY AND VELOCITY AND THE
KIDS STAND THERE WITH THE
HELMET IN A PLASTIC MALLET,
PLASTIC BAG, AND GETS READY FOR
FOR THE BALL TO COME OUT SO
THEY CAN HIT IT. THEY WERE SO
READY TO GO OUTSIDE. IT WAS
COLD, IT WAS 6:00 A.M. WE HAVE
THE THING TOGETHER AND WE ARE
SHIVERING AND SHAKING WAITING
FOR THIS LITTLE BALL TO COME
OUT OF THIS MACHINE AND TRYING
TO BE EXCITED BECAUSE IT IS
CHRISTMAS MORNING, AND MY
SECOND SON IS ALL GREGARIOUS
AND READY FOR THE CHALLENGE.
HE’S GOT A BAT IN HIS HAND AND
WAITING FOR IT. IS WAITING FOR
THE BALL. EVEN 10 AND HE IS
SWINGING AT EVERYTHING. MY
OLDEST SON IS CAUTIOUS AND
CALCULATING. HE IS ANALYTICAL
AND TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING.
THING OUT. HE’S WATCHING THE
BALL, AND THE MORE HE SEES IT
THE MORE YOU LIKE, NO. AND I
SAID, BUDDY, YOU CAN DO IT. AND
AND HE SAID NO. AND I SAID, YOU
YOU CAN DO IT. HE SAYS I CAN’T
DO IT. HEAT — YOU’RE GOING TO
TO DO BECAUSE I AM STANDING OUT
OUT HERE AND IT IS SIX A.M. AND
AND IT’S COLD. WHEN IT IS HIS
TERM HE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE
AND IS NERVOUS BECAUSE HE’S
WAITING FOR THE BALL AND I’M
WATCHING MY BOY AND I SAID, I
WISH I COULD GET HIS MIND TO
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT I
KNEW. HERE’S WHAT I KNEW. HIS
FATHER HAD ALREADY GONE BEHIND
TO THE BACK OF THE MACHINE
WHERE THERE WAS A GEAR THAT YOU
YOU CAN OPEN UP THAT REVEALED
YEARS AND YOU CAN ADJUST THE
FREQUENCY AND VELOCITY TO MATCH
MATCH WHAT THE PERSON STANDING
AT THE PLATE. THE REASON WHY MY
MY BOY HAD NO REASON TO BE
AFRAID WAS BECAUSE HE HAD A
DADDY WHO LOVED HIM. WHO HAD
ALREADY SET HIM UP TO WIN. THE N
THE REASON YOU DON’T NEED TO BE
BE AFRAID NO MATTER HOW
INTIMIDATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF YOUR LIFE CURRENTLY LOOK, NO
NO MATTER HOW THE UPSIDE DOWN
THE BOAT SEEMS TO BE RIGHT NOW,
NOW, THE REASON WHY YOU DON’T
KNOW TO BE AFRAID AND CAN STEP
UP TO THE PLATE AND BE WHO GOD
HAS CALLED YOU TO BE IN THIS
GENERATION, LITTLE BROTHER,
LITTLE SISTER, THE REASON WHY
YOU CAN’T IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A
A DADDY WHO LOVES YOU. HE’S
ALREADY GONE BEHIND THE SCENE
AND SET YOU UP TO WIN. LORD, I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERFECT
PATIENCE. I THANK YOU THAT YOU E
YOU GRACE IS SUFFICIENT IN YOUR
YOUR MERCY IS EXTRAVAGANT AND I
I THANK YOU THAT TODAY IS A
BRAND-NEW DAY, THE FIRST DAY OF
OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
CHANGE AS, TRANSFORMERS, AND
THE NAME OF JESUS I PRAY. AMEN.
AMEN I THINK THAT’S A PRETTY
GOOD COMBO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
A COUPLE QUICK THINGS BEFORE WE.
WE GO. DON’T FORGET WE GOT THE
TRAILER OUT FRONT. GO PICK UP
SUPPLIES AND BRING THAT BACK. I
I WANT TO PUT THAT QR CODE BACK
BACK ON THE SCREEN BUT BEFORE
YOU GO, DR. PREVO ASKED ME TO
SAY ONE THING TO ALL OF OUR
STUDENTS FROM ALASKA. WHERE ARE
ARE OUR ALASKA STUDENTS? WE
DON’T HAVE THAT MANY BUT STILL
IF YOU ARE FROM ALASKA, DR.
PREVO SAID VERY CLEARLY, DO
NOT REGISTER TO VOTE HERE IN
VIRGINIA. YOU NEED TO VOTE
ABSENTEE AT HOME AND SAID
SOMETHING ABOUT A PERMANENT
FUND AND SAID DON’T BE STUPID.
THAT IS FOR OUR ALASKA
STUDENTS. GOD BLESS YOU. HAVE A
A GREAT DAY. SHOW UP FOR THE GRN
THE GREEN GAME TOMORROW. IT’LL
BE A GREAT DAY.